Min sat in the tent of the Wise Ones. A white robed gai'shain poured tea for them whilst they discussed the matter at hand.
Amys was concerned, for she had much to do with Egwene when the young woman had lived among them. "We should accompany the Car'a'carn. Egwene will need our assistance in battling this usurper."
Sorilea glanced towards the Amys. The woman was as agitated as Sorilea had ever seen her; with her emotions running so high it was a wonder she could speak at all. "We understand the situation Amys, but should we really expose our selves in such a manner? We have ever kept ourselves apart from Aes Sedai. Should we now walk amongst them, using saidar to do battle?
"It is something we must consider with a clear head." Amys cast her eyes down at this; well aware the comment was directed mainly at her. Sorilea brushed the back of her hand over Amys', "We all feel the same, there is no toh." Amys' body relaxed slightly but she did not look up.
"Min what can you tell us?"
****************
Lan sat in his and Nyneave's chambers, watching her pace the length of the room over and over again. Her face was set with a grim expression, and her hand was still tightly gripping her braid. There was nothing he could do to relieve her worries. He had never been so helpless in his life! Give him an enemy to face, not this silent aguish that came from his beloved!
"Nothing SHE can do! Ha! She's done enough! Always interfering. Why couldn't she have stayed DEAD?" Her stamping foot punctuated the last word.
"Nyneave, please, don't do this to yourself. She cannot channel, so there is nothing to be done. If it is any consolation, the bond is different. It seems muted. I don't think it is the same as it was before."
"Muted? How? What do you mean by different?" She moved to sit in the chair opposite.
"It feels like it has been smothered by something. I don't think it is strong enough to give me the same kind of benefits as it did before. I can still feel Moiraine's presence and I expect she can feel mine, but I think that may be the extent of it."
"I don't care! It's still too much! I want that woman out of your head. I will not share you with her. You're mine!" The vehemence of the last remark obviously stunned her as much as him, for she blushed violently.
Thrusting herself to her feet once more Nyneave crossed to him. "It sounds like the bond has been formed wrong maybe I can fix it" She moved to place her hands against his temples but he drew back sharply. "Fix it or destroy it?" asked Lan gently. She coloured once more. "I wouldn't," Lan arched a brow. "I just want to look at it? Lan please, I have to do something."
"Just don't do anything until we can discuss this with Moiraine. I won't let you do anything to harm her Nyneave."
She nodded and placed her hands against his head. She closed her eyes as she always did, and Lan could feel the power at work within him.
As she sent flows of spirit, air and water into his mind she relished the sense of exhilaration that she always felt when channelling. The sweet seductiveness of saidar was strong; this was the first time she had channelled since that morning at Shadar Logath. She had been wary of using saider, worried that she might have done damage to her ability, but as the power flowed she realised that had been foolishness.
As she located the bond in Lan's mind, she held it before her awareness and ran threads of power through it, examining every aspect of it. It was like a knot made of threads of saidar, tied up with something else. It seemed to give of a sense of Moiraine. After finding nothing helpful, she expanded her awareness, and looked at it from a different perspective. Now that she had identified Moiraine's touch, she could see a pulse. It looked like the halo of saidar surrounding linked sisters, but instead of the glow of saidar it was like a ghostly echo of Moiraine. She withdrew from Lan's mind, and released the flows.
"There is something there, but I need to examine Moiraine to find if it can be of any help."
Lan opened his eyes to look at his wife. She no longer looked hopeless. She had found purpose once more.
*******************
It was dark by the time Min returned to the palace. She did not want to be alone right now, so she headed towards Rand's rooms. Outside his door were the ever-present maidens. Enaile and Somera stood watch this night. They looked up at her as she approached and each flashed her a grin. "The Car'a'carn has missed your company, Min," said Enaila with suppressed laughter. "Yes," agreed Somera, "He has taken to talking to himself, and answering in your voice. Or trying to!" This was obviously too much for the pair, who both doted on him like a young son. They burst into laughter.
Enaila recovered enough to open the door.
As she walked into the bedroom, she studied Rand. The visions she around him had were always confusing, but what she saw around him now was astounding. One moment the sparks fighting darkness that were always present were especially strong, and the next moment they were completely gone! With them went the vision of three women sharing him, and completely different pictures replaced these. The most dominating was a woman of incredible beauty; another was of a black mask with eyes and mouth of flame. Then these were gone and replaced by the originals. The visions alternated before her eyes. This was unlike anything she had every seen before! The things that she saw around Rand had always remained the same; this was like having someone else over lapping him!
She moved to the bedside and grasped his shoulder to wake him. As she woke him his face seemed to twist as if he were having two separate emotions. One was implacable determination; the other was panicked. As his eyes opened and focused on her she felt a flash of relief. This worried her more; because there was usually so little from him that he may as well have been a rock.
"Min. I'm glad you're here. I don't think I could spend the rest of this night alone." He shifted over in the bed to leave her room to lie down. She stripped to her underclothes and climbed in beside him. He gathered her into his arms and held onto her like a branch to save him from drowning.
****************
Two hours before dawn, Enaila appeared around the doorway. "Does the Car'a'carn intend to sleep his way through the battle?"
"No. I'm awake. Please send for food Enaila. Min needs to eat." Rand sat up carefully as the maiden left the room, trying to let Min sleep as long as possible.
He moved to the window and lifted the heavy drapes to one side. He could make out the clans assembling in the courtyard, and ha could also make out a separate group of women. He was pleased the Wise Ones had decided to join them, they were not bound by ridiculous oaths, he only hoped they would take his orders in the upcoming battle.
Min stirred in the bed and sat up to watch him. The visions this morning were steady and familiar. As a servant came in with breakfast, they both moved to the table. Neither of them spoke as they were both focused on the day to come.
*********
Dawn was still an hour away as they prepared to leave the courtyard. Moiraine and Cadsuane had both come to join Rand's group. "Egwene has managed to gather quite a force about her with the help of Lord Bryne. We must be careful not to appear too close and put any of them in danger" Moiraine observed. Rand nodded curtly, and turned to pass orders to the waiting Asha'man. He stopped as he noticed a pair of figures riding through the crowd towards him. As they pulled up along side the group Lan said "It is still my duty to protect you." Moiraine looked at Nyneave but nodded. Nyneave looked at Rand "And you certainly don't expect me to let you go haring off without any kind of supervision!"
Rand's lipped curved in a wry smile as he saw the look she gave Cadsuane and Moiraine. "I want gateways opened evenly along the perimeter of their force. We need to be spread evenly throughout. When the battle is joined, concentrate on disabling any of their Aes Sedai you come across. No killing. Do you understand me? Shield them, sever them if you must, but do not kill. Most of them are innocent, those that are not I will deal with."
The Ahsa'man moved off to carry out their orders. The silver slashes that indicated a gate being formed appeared throughout the assembled troops. The gathered maidens were the first through the gateways, claiming as always, the right to carry his honour into battle. With grim determination, Rand and his companions moved out.
***********
I know its two at once but the bloody thing hasn't been uploading since I got my favourite toy back. This is dragging itself out a bit, aye? Please tell me to shut it if you think I'm just babbling, cos else its gonna go on & on & on & on.. you get the picture!! C.xxx
Amys was concerned, for she had much to do with Egwene when the young woman had lived among them. "We should accompany the Car'a'carn. Egwene will need our assistance in battling this usurper."
Sorilea glanced towards the Amys. The woman was as agitated as Sorilea had ever seen her; with her emotions running so high it was a wonder she could speak at all. "We understand the situation Amys, but should we really expose our selves in such a manner? We have ever kept ourselves apart from Aes Sedai. Should we now walk amongst them, using saidar to do battle?
"It is something we must consider with a clear head." Amys cast her eyes down at this; well aware the comment was directed mainly at her. Sorilea brushed the back of her hand over Amys', "We all feel the same, there is no toh." Amys' body relaxed slightly but she did not look up.
"Min what can you tell us?"
****************
Lan sat in his and Nyneave's chambers, watching her pace the length of the room over and over again. Her face was set with a grim expression, and her hand was still tightly gripping her braid. There was nothing he could do to relieve her worries. He had never been so helpless in his life! Give him an enemy to face, not this silent aguish that came from his beloved!
"Nothing SHE can do! Ha! She's done enough! Always interfering. Why couldn't she have stayed DEAD?" Her stamping foot punctuated the last word.
"Nyneave, please, don't do this to yourself. She cannot channel, so there is nothing to be done. If it is any consolation, the bond is different. It seems muted. I don't think it is the same as it was before."
"Muted? How? What do you mean by different?" She moved to sit in the chair opposite.
"It feels like it has been smothered by something. I don't think it is strong enough to give me the same kind of benefits as it did before. I can still feel Moiraine's presence and I expect she can feel mine, but I think that may be the extent of it."
"I don't care! It's still too much! I want that woman out of your head. I will not share you with her. You're mine!" The vehemence of the last remark obviously stunned her as much as him, for she blushed violently.
Thrusting herself to her feet once more Nyneave crossed to him. "It sounds like the bond has been formed wrong maybe I can fix it" She moved to place her hands against his temples but he drew back sharply. "Fix it or destroy it?" asked Lan gently. She coloured once more. "I wouldn't," Lan arched a brow. "I just want to look at it? Lan please, I have to do something."
"Just don't do anything until we can discuss this with Moiraine. I won't let you do anything to harm her Nyneave."
She nodded and placed her hands against his head. She closed her eyes as she always did, and Lan could feel the power at work within him.
As she sent flows of spirit, air and water into his mind she relished the sense of exhilaration that she always felt when channelling. The sweet seductiveness of saidar was strong; this was the first time she had channelled since that morning at Shadar Logath. She had been wary of using saider, worried that she might have done damage to her ability, but as the power flowed she realised that had been foolishness.
As she located the bond in Lan's mind, she held it before her awareness and ran threads of power through it, examining every aspect of it. It was like a knot made of threads of saidar, tied up with something else. It seemed to give of a sense of Moiraine. After finding nothing helpful, she expanded her awareness, and looked at it from a different perspective. Now that she had identified Moiraine's touch, she could see a pulse. It looked like the halo of saidar surrounding linked sisters, but instead of the glow of saidar it was like a ghostly echo of Moiraine. She withdrew from Lan's mind, and released the flows.
"There is something there, but I need to examine Moiraine to find if it can be of any help."
Lan opened his eyes to look at his wife. She no longer looked hopeless. She had found purpose once more.
*******************
It was dark by the time Min returned to the palace. She did not want to be alone right now, so she headed towards Rand's rooms. Outside his door were the ever-present maidens. Enaile and Somera stood watch this night. They looked up at her as she approached and each flashed her a grin. "The Car'a'carn has missed your company, Min," said Enaila with suppressed laughter. "Yes," agreed Somera, "He has taken to talking to himself, and answering in your voice. Or trying to!" This was obviously too much for the pair, who both doted on him like a young son. They burst into laughter.
Enaila recovered enough to open the door.
As she walked into the bedroom, she studied Rand. The visions she around him had were always confusing, but what she saw around him now was astounding. One moment the sparks fighting darkness that were always present were especially strong, and the next moment they were completely gone! With them went the vision of three women sharing him, and completely different pictures replaced these. The most dominating was a woman of incredible beauty; another was of a black mask with eyes and mouth of flame. Then these were gone and replaced by the originals. The visions alternated before her eyes. This was unlike anything she had every seen before! The things that she saw around Rand had always remained the same; this was like having someone else over lapping him!
She moved to the bedside and grasped his shoulder to wake him. As she woke him his face seemed to twist as if he were having two separate emotions. One was implacable determination; the other was panicked. As his eyes opened and focused on her she felt a flash of relief. This worried her more; because there was usually so little from him that he may as well have been a rock.
"Min. I'm glad you're here. I don't think I could spend the rest of this night alone." He shifted over in the bed to leave her room to lie down. She stripped to her underclothes and climbed in beside him. He gathered her into his arms and held onto her like a branch to save him from drowning.
****************
Two hours before dawn, Enaila appeared around the doorway. "Does the Car'a'carn intend to sleep his way through the battle?"
"No. I'm awake. Please send for food Enaila. Min needs to eat." Rand sat up carefully as the maiden left the room, trying to let Min sleep as long as possible.
He moved to the window and lifted the heavy drapes to one side. He could make out the clans assembling in the courtyard, and ha could also make out a separate group of women. He was pleased the Wise Ones had decided to join them, they were not bound by ridiculous oaths, he only hoped they would take his orders in the upcoming battle.
Min stirred in the bed and sat up to watch him. The visions this morning were steady and familiar. As a servant came in with breakfast, they both moved to the table. Neither of them spoke as they were both focused on the day to come.
*********
Dawn was still an hour away as they prepared to leave the courtyard. Moiraine and Cadsuane had both come to join Rand's group. "Egwene has managed to gather quite a force about her with the help of Lord Bryne. We must be careful not to appear too close and put any of them in danger" Moiraine observed. Rand nodded curtly, and turned to pass orders to the waiting Asha'man. He stopped as he noticed a pair of figures riding through the crowd towards him. As they pulled up along side the group Lan said "It is still my duty to protect you." Moiraine looked at Nyneave but nodded. Nyneave looked at Rand "And you certainly don't expect me to let you go haring off without any kind of supervision!"
Rand's lipped curved in a wry smile as he saw the look she gave Cadsuane and Moiraine. "I want gateways opened evenly along the perimeter of their force. We need to be spread evenly throughout. When the battle is joined, concentrate on disabling any of their Aes Sedai you come across. No killing. Do you understand me? Shield them, sever them if you must, but do not kill. Most of them are innocent, those that are not I will deal with."
The Ahsa'man moved off to carry out their orders. The silver slashes that indicated a gate being formed appeared throughout the assembled troops. The gathered maidens were the first through the gateways, claiming as always, the right to carry his honour into battle. With grim determination, Rand and his companions moved out.
***********
I know its two at once but the bloody thing hasn't been uploading since I got my favourite toy back. This is dragging itself out a bit, aye? Please tell me to shut it if you think I'm just babbling, cos else its gonna go on & on & on & on.. you get the picture!! C.xxx